The NCERT’s New Panel: A Recipe for Controversy?

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has revamped its team tasked with crafting political science textbooks for Classes XI and XII. This decision will inevitably spark debate given the new panel’s composition, which includes four individuals with ties to organizations linked to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) or Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The move is part of a broader trend where institutions of public education are increasingly being reshaped to reflect the ideological leanings of the ruling party.

Among the 20 members of the new panel are Vandana Mishra, a former ABVP national secretary and JNU professor; Yadunath Deshpande, an educationist with ties to both ABVP and BJP; Prashant Divekar from Jnana Prabodhini; and Ravi Rameshchandra Shukla, associated with the editorial board of the Indian Institute of Democratic Leadership’s journal. The inclusion of these individuals raises questions about the potential for ideological bias in the curriculum.

While the revamped panel also includes academics from reputable institutions such as JNU, Delhi University, and Ignou, their presence alongside those with RSS or BJP affiliations cannot be ignored. This composition is a microcosm of a larger issue: the increasing politicization of educational institutions in India.

The development should prompt concern among those who believe that education should remain apolitical and focused on academic rigor rather than ideological indoctrination. The textbook controversy of 2014, where Saffron-colored textbooks were introduced, is a precedent for such concerns. The current situation echoes these worries.

The impact of this move extends beyond the curriculum itself, reflecting a broader trend in India’s educational landscape where institutions are seen as tools for promoting ideological agendas rather than fostering critical thinking and academic excellence. This shift pits liberal values against an ascendant Hindutva agenda.

As NCERT pushes forward with its new panel’s work on the political science textbooks, it would do well to recall its mission statement: “To initiate and undertake studies in areas that are fundamentally significant for the education system.” It remains to be seen whether this new team will prioritize academic rigor over ideological considerations. The process of creating these textbooks will undoubtedly face scrutiny from both within and outside the institution.

The NCERT’s decision highlights the need for greater transparency in educational institutions and their affiliations. In an era where the lines between education and politics are increasingly blurred, it is crucial that institutions of public learning remain committed to their core values: academic freedom, diversity, and inclusivity.